Finding a Teacher - A Primer for Parents

This is the first of two articles on finding a teacher. The second article will be geared for professional performers as well as adult avocational singers.  This one is for parents of school-age students.

It might surprise you to know that, while there is government certification for all types of professionals – from doctors, lawyers, accountants and school teachers to plumbers, electricians and contractors to physical trainers, acupuncturists, psychologists and manicurists – there is no certification for music teachers.  Anyone can hang out the proverbial shingle (or website) calling himself a guitar teacher or piano teacher!  There is no monitoring agency, no oversight whatsoever, for private music teachers. 

Yup, anyone with an undergraduate music degree (or less), a season in the chorus of the local opera company or a few community theatre productions under his belt can claim to be able to teach your child to sing.  I mean, how hard can it be, right?  So how do you find the best teacher for your child?

The best place to start is with personal recommendations.  Ask other parents, any musicians you may know, your church’s music director and the school band/chorus or general music teacher.

Ideally you will want someone with both professional performing experience themselves AND some pedagogy background (pedagogy = the art, science, or profession of teaching).   A highly seasoned and acclaimed singer, no matter how many years she may have spent at the Metropolitan Opera, may have little idea how she does what she does and little ability to pass useful information on to young singers.  By the same token, a young teacher with a masters or even doctoral degree in vocal performance or vocal pedagogy but who hasn’t had real world performing experience may not have had good training himself (or else why isn’t he out doing it?) and have little idea what it takes to succeed as a performer. 

Next, see if you can hear some of their students.  Maybe you can attend a recital or sit in on a lesson or two.  Do the students sound like they are singing well?  Do they seem to be straining?  Some teachers publish success stories of students who have worked with them – performing credits and competition winnings, etc.  But beware:  some teachers claim students who may have had only a couple of lessons with them; and some teachers may only accept very talented students in their studios. 

Good teachers are interested in upgrading their knowledge.  Are they members of some of the music teacher or singing teacher associations (National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA))?  Do they attend workshops and master classes (or present them)?  Do they associate with other singing teachers and musicians?  Annual continuing education credits are required by law for doctors, lawyers, speech pathologists, etc. and should be for voice teachers too.  There is a ton of exciting research in voice science and pedagogy being done these days. 

Another question to ask is whether the teacher offers performing opportunities – does he present recitals and/or does he send students to local competitions or talents shows?

There is a lot of confusion out there about terminology.  What’s the difference between a voice teacher and a vocal coach?  Again, these terms and activities are not defined by any oversight body.  But in the professional worlds of opera and musical theatre, there is a clear distinction.  A voice teacher is one who teaches vocal technique and will usually help students with repertoire (songs) as well.  A teacher may have any level of piano/accompanying skills, including next to none.  A vocal coach is usually an excellent pianist who specializes in repertoire and interpretation.  They will have musical directing or conducting experience and, if opera coaches, be well versed in languages and diction.  In the pop music world, however, the lines are more blurred.  So be specific about what you are looking for. 

Just a note on prices.  The best I can tell you is to find out what the going rates are in your area.  There will be a range, with younger, less experienced teachers charging less and more experienced, name teachers sometimes much more.  I do want to suggest that you not use price as your sole criterion. 

These are guidelines.  Perhaps a teacher you’re interested in or that has been recommended does not possess all of the above attributes, but he should have some of them. 

By all means, go with your child to the first lesson and meet the teacher.  Some may allow you to sit in on the first lesson, some may have you wait in an outer area.  But you want to meet the teacher and make sure the teaching studio is minimally a clean and safe environment. 

Along with all the above criteria, there is always the human element.  Despite all good intentions and qualifications, not every teacher is for every student.  There has to be a rapport, and the teaching style has to be a good fit.  I will try to follow up with some advice on what to expect from lessons. 

Peace out.